Stamp-affixing device.



0. F. HANSEN.

STAMP AFFIXING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24,1911.

1 ,033,069.v Patented July 16, 1912.

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ML LE liq ll CFHwmsen,

CHARLES F. HANSEN, OF PORTLUDLOW, WASHINGTON.

STAMP-AFFIXING DEVICE.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 16, 1912.

Application fi led June 24, 1911 Serial No. 635,123.

and useful Improvements in Stamp-Aflixing Devices; of which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to stamp afiixing -devices and has particular reference to a device of that character whereby the stamps are readily picked up. and aflixed to the envelops. A

The object of the present invention resides in the provision of a' device for aflixing stamps to envelops which may be easily and quickly operated with the use of one hand, the stamp bein held in position for aflixing to the envelop by means of air suction.

A further object is to provide a device of the above character comprising a cylinder or air tube having a stamp receiving head on one end thereof and a plunger in said tube adapted to be actuated to draw or suck the stamp into the head to discharge the same therefrom upon the moistened surface.

of the envelop. A still further object is to provide a stamp affixing device which may be constructed at a minimum cost and which is also strong, durable and highly efficient in practical operation.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stamp afiixing device constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sect-ion of the same; and Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective view of the stamp applying head.

Referring more particularly to the drawing 5 indicates an air tube or cylinder which may be inexpensively formed from sheet metal and is provided with an enlarged head 6 which will conveniently fit into the palm of the operators hand. Upon the other end of the cylinder 5 the stamp receiving head 7 is secured. This head may also be formed from sheet metal or can be cast as desired. In either case it is provided with a central tubular boss or extension 8 which is interiorly threaded as shown at. 9 to receive the threaded end of the cylinder 5. The sides o-fthe head 7 are flared or diverged outwardly as shown at 7' and have arranged between them the flexible body 10. This body may be formed of rubber or of a plurality of layers of felt secured together. It is centrally provided with an opening 11 which is concentrically disposed with relation to the air cylinder 5. Itwill be noted from reference to Fig. 2 that the-depth of the head 7 is greater than the thickness of the body 10 so that when the edges of the flared sides 7' of the head are disposed upon a flat plane surface a slight space will be left'between said surface and the bottom of the flexible body. This body 10 may be secured in the head 7 in any well known manner and in the operation of the device air is adapted to be discharged through or drawn into the opening ll as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The cylinder 5 is formed intermediate of itsends with a short longitudinal slot 12; Through this slot the angularly disposed end of a plunger rod 13 extends and is adapted to be engaged by the finger of the operator to move the plunger head l t ,upwardly within theair cylinder against the contractile force of a spring 15. This spring 15 is located in the lower end of the cyllnder and has one of its ends secured to the body 10, the other end thereof being fixed to the plunger head 14. This spring normally tends to hold the end of the plunger rod in the lower end of the slot 12.

' lVhen the plunger 14 is drawn upwardly"- in the cylinder 5, the stamp over which the head 10 has been placed is drawn against said head by the pressure of the air below the stamp which seeks to enter the opening 11 in the head. The operator then moves the device to the place where the same is to be applied, and in such movement additional air finds its way into the lower end of the cylinder so as to produce sufficient air therein to force the stamp away fro-m the head when the plunger 1.4 is released. The stamp will be held against the body as long as the plunger 14: is sustained in its raised position by the finger of the operator. After the corner of the envelop has been moistened and the head 7 positioned thereon, the operator relieves pressure upon theend of the 1 5 tube.

in the head 10. This discharge of the air forces the stamp away from the head and into contact with the moistened surface of the envelop. A very powerful jet of air 5 is discharged when the plunger is-released so that it is suiiicient to cause the stamp to securely adhere to the envelop thereby obviating the liability-of its accidental displacementor loss. It will, of course, be understood. that the head 7 is of sufficient size to entirely surround the stamp so that .the same will lie flatly against the member 10 when all of the air between the stamp and said member has been drawn into the While the device is particularly adapted for use with my'improved envelop sealing machine above referred to, it may also be employed with or without a sealing machine of any well known form. 7 It is only necessary to provide a suitable frame into which the head 7 may be disposed upon the stamps an" ranged therein so that they may be removed singly from the frame and applied to the 2'5 envelops.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have produced a stamp affixing device of, comparatively simple construction and one, which is very efficient in practical use and may be quickly operated so that considerable time can thus be saved in the afiixing of stamps to envelops.

The. device may be manufactured at a very low cost and while I have specifically,

pointed out the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that the same may be variously modified without departing from the essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention'.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A stamp affixing device comprisinga cylinder, a stamp receiving head on one end of said cylinder, a plunger movable in the cylinder, said-head having an opening communicating with the cylinder, a'spring normally holding said plunger against movea ment, and means for movingthe plunger to -cause air. to be drawn into the cylinder through said head, substantially as-andfor the purpose specified.

2. A stamp aflixing device comprising a cylinder, a head secured on one end of said cylinder having an open bottom and out fwardly flared walls, a flexible body secured in the head having an opening communieating with the cylinder, :1 spring held plunger in saidcylinder, plunger rod connect Copies oI-this patent may be obtained for five cents ed to said plunger, said cylinder having a longitudinal slot therein, the plunger rod extending through said slot for engagement by the finger of the operator, said head being adapted to receive a stamp therein by the suction of air created by the movement of the plunger in one direction, the reverse body being disposed above the lower edges of the side walls, said body having an open-.

ing therein, a plunger longitudinally movable in said cylinder, the movement of the plunger in one direction creating an air suction through said body to draw a stamp the movement of the plunger in the opposite direction expelling the air through said body to force the stamp from the head, and means for moving said plunger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A stamp afiixing device comprising a cylinder, a sheet metal rectangular head threaded upon one end of the cylinder, the walls of said head being outwardly flared, a flexible body secured between the walls of the head, the surface of said body being disposed above the edges of the'sides of the head, said body having an opening therein communicating with the cylinder, a plunger movable in thecylinder, a contractile spring secured at one end to said body and at its other end to the plunger, said cylinder having a longitudinal slotformed therein intermediate of its ends, a plunger rod secured to the plunger having its ends laterally disposed and extended through said slot, said extendedend of the plunger rod being adapted for engagement by the finger of the operator to move said plunger, the

upward movement of the plunger causing suction of air into the tube to draw a stamp into the head against the surface of the body therein and the reverse movement of said plunger expelling air from the cylinder to force the stamp from the head, substantially 'as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. CHARLES F. HANSEN. \Vitnesses:

H; POULSEN,

N. CUNNINGHAM.

each, by addressing the. Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

body secured in the head, the surface of said against the surface thereof into the head, 

